22 Big-Ticket Kitchen Items That Are Actually Worth the Expense

Until we tried a Scanpan Fry Pan ($90 for 10-inch, originally $139), a virtually scratch-proof, eco-friendly (read: not Teflon) nonstick pan, our philosophy was to stick with inexpensive nonstick cookware and replace as soon as its nonstick coating wore off with use. (Typically annually.) This pan is a game-changer: not only does its nonstick coating last for years, but we also no longer have to worry about ingesting flaked-off Teflon or inhaling fumes from overheating the pan.